Moving house often means clearing years of accumulated belongings, and North London residents have several options for disposing of unwanted items. Whether you need a skip for a complete house clearout or just want a few bulky items collected, understanding the different services available across Barnet, Haringey, and Enfield can save you time and money.
Skip Hire in North London
Skip hire remains the most practical option when you have a large volume of waste to dispose of, particularly during renovations or full house clearouts. In London, skip prices are typically 20–30% higher than the national average due to higher operating costs and permit fees.
Skip Sizes and What They Hold
Most skip hire companies in North London offer sizes ranging from 2-yard mini skips up to 40-yard roll-on-roll-off containers. For domestic moves, the most commonly used sizes are:
4-yard midi skip: Holds approximately 30–40 bin bags. Suitable for small clearouts, bathroom refits, or single-room decluttering. Expect to pay £180–£300 in London, with prices from around £252 for mixed construction waste.
6-yard builders skip: Holds 50–60 bin bags. The most popular choice for kitchen refits, medium-sized home renovations, and typical house moves. London prices range from £250–£400, typically starting around £318.
8-yard maxi skip: Holds 60–80 bin bags. Ideal for larger clearouts, full house moves, or when disposing of bulky furniture alongside general waste. Prices in London range from £320–£500, often starting around £348.
An 8-yard skip has roughly the same capacity as a standard Transit van, making it a useful benchmark when estimating your needs.
Skip Permit Requirements
If you have a driveway or private land where the skip can be placed, you won’t need a permit. However, if the skip needs to go on a public road or pavement, you’ll need to obtain a permit from your local council. In North London, permit costs vary between £15 and £100 depending on the borough, with most falling in the £30–£60 range. Most skip hire companies can arrange permits on your behalf, adding the cost to your final bill.
Keep in mind that some narrow residential streets in areas like Crouch End, Muswell Hill, or parts of Finchley may have access restrictions that make skip placement difficult. In these cases, a man and van rubbish removal service may be more practical.
Skip Hire Companies Serving North London
Mick George operates extensively across Barnet and surrounding areas including Borehamwood, Potters Bar, and Edgware. They offer next-day delivery in most cases and can arrange council permits. Prices start from around £90 for smaller skips.
Ground Skips covers Barnet and neighbouring areas including High Barnet, New Barnet, Friern Barnet, and Arkley. They emphasise sustainability, recycling over 95% of collected waste at their transfer station.
J Byne Haulage is a family-run company serving Barnet and the wider North London, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire areas. They offer same-day delivery and collection for sizes from 2 to 12 yards, with approximately 90% of waste recycled.
Stevenson Skip Hire provides coverage across Barnet with same-day or next-day delivery available. They also offer a man and van rubbish removal service as an alternative to skip hire.
Norris operates in New Barnet and North Finchley, offering 4, 6, 8, and 12-yard skips with same-day delivery and a near-zero landfill approach.
Council Bulky Waste Collections
If you only have a few large items to dispose of, your local council’s bulky waste collection service is often more cost-effective than hiring a skip. Each North London borough operates its own service with different pricing structures.
Enfield Council
Enfield offers one of the most generous bulky waste services in London. Collections of non-electrical items are free for up to 6 items per booking, with collections scheduled based on your postcode. If you need a specific date, you can pay £19 to choose a preferred collection day. Items must be placed at your property boundary by 5:30am on collection day. Electrical items require a separate paid collection, though the North London Waste Authority provides free electrical item collection through AnyJunk.
Haringey Council
Haringey’s bulky waste service is operated by Veolia. The minimum charge is £20 for up to 4 items, with each additional item costing £10. The maximum is 10 items per booking. Five tied bin bags count as one item. Collections can be booked through the Veolia contact centre on 020 8885 7700 or via the council’s waste services website. Items should be placed at street level outside any gated bin area by 6:30am on collection day.
Barnet Council
Barnet operates a paid bulky waste collection service with costs varying by item type and quantity. Up to 10 items can be booked online per collection slot, with larger quantities arranged by phone on 020 8359 4600. The council encourages residents to consider free furniture collection by the British Heart Foundation for items in good condition before booking a bulky waste collection.
Reuse and Recycling Centres
North London’s reuse and recycling centres (RRCs) are managed by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), which coordinates waste disposal for Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, and several other boroughs. These centres are free to use for residents disposing of household waste.
Key Sites in North London
Summers Lane RRC in North Finchley (N12 0RF) serves Barnet residents. This is one of the largest recycling centres in North London, accepting garden waste, electrical items, furniture, and general household waste.
Barrowell Green Recycling Centre in Winchmore Hill (N21 3AU) is Enfield’s main facility. Opening hours are typically 7:45am–4:15pm with later evenings during summer months. The centre is closed on Mondays.
Park View Road RRC in Tottenham (N17 9AY) and Hornsey RRC on High Street (N8 7QB) serve Haringey residents. Both are open Monday to Friday 8:30am–4pm and Saturday to Sunday 9am–4pm, closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and Good Friday.
Edmonton EcoPark Reuse and Recycling Centre is the newest facility, opened in 2024 as part of the North London Heat and Power Project. This state-of-the-art centre accepts over 150 different items including hard-to-recycle materials like carpets, polystyrene, and vapes. It serves residents of Enfield, Haringey, and Waltham Forest and requires booking a visit through the NLWA website.
Some centres require advance booking, particularly for larger items or if you’re arriving in a van. Check the respective council websites before visiting.
Private Rubbish Removal Services
When you need flexibility, speed, or help with heavy lifting, private rubbish removal companies offer an alternative to skips and council services. These services typically collect from inside your property, handle all the labour, and can often provide same-day or next-day collection.
Companies Serving North London
Clearabee provides man and van rubbish removal across all North London boroughs including Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey. They maintain a landfill diversion rate above 98% and offer skip bags as an alternative to traditional skips. For residents of North London boroughs, they also provide free collection of waste electrical items through the NLWA scheme.
RID Waste specialises in North London rubbish removal covering Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey. Prices start from £35 for small clearances, with same-day collection available. They operate ULEZ-compliant vehicles and aim to recycle at least 95% of collected waste.
Easy Waste Disposal is a local family business based in Haringey with over 10 years of experience. Single-item collections start from £40, scaling up to complete house clearances. They offer same-day, next-day, and regular collection options.
Snappy Rubbish Removals covers Islington, Brent, Barnet, Haringey, and Enfield. They focus on eco-friendly disposal and maintain regularly serviced vehicles to minimise emissions.
Junkwize provides house, garden, and garage clearance services across Haringey and wider North London, emphasising recycling and proper disposal of different waste types including electrical items.
Skip Hire vs Man and Van: Which to Choose?
The choice between skip hire and a man and van rubbish removal service depends on your specific circumstances.
Skip hire works best when: You have ongoing waste generation over several days (during renovations, for example), you’re able to load the skip yourself, you have suitable space for placement, and your waste volume justifies the cost.
Man and van services work best when: You need items collected from inside the property, you can’t lift heavy items yourself, you have limited space or difficult access, you want everything removed in a single visit, or you’re dealing with a relatively small volume of waste.
For a typical house move clearout, many people find that a man and van service offers better value when factoring in the time and effort saved, particularly in areas with narrow streets or limited parking where skip placement is problematic.
What Can’t Go in a Skip?
Standard domestic skips cannot accept certain hazardous materials. Items typically prohibited include asbestos, batteries, gas cylinders, paint and solvents, tyres, clinical waste, and electrical items (though some companies accept WEEE items for an additional charge). Mattresses and sofas containing fire retardants now require special handling due to regulations around persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and many skip companies charge extra per mattress (typically £15–£55).
For hazardous materials, contact your local council or a specialist waste disposal company. North London’s recycling centres accept many items that skips cannot, including paints, chemicals, and electrical goods.
Booking Tips
When arranging waste disposal for your move, book your skip or collection service in advance, particularly during busy periods like bank holiday weekends or the end of the month when many tenancies end. Check whether the quoted price includes VAT, delivery, collection, and any permit fees. Verify the company holds a valid waste carrier licence by checking the Environment Agency register, and ask about their recycling rates if environmental impact matters to you.
If you’re moving with a man and van service, you may find your removal driver can take small amounts of rubbish for an additional fee, which can be more convenient than arranging separate waste disposal. If you’re planning a larger clearout before your move, you can get an instant quote to see your options.
